From Matthew Henryâs Commentary:
I. The attempts of Satan and his agents to prevent the increase of the church, by devouring her offspring *as soon as it was born;* of this we have a very lively description in the most proper images.
1. We see how the church is represented in this vision. (1.) As a *woman,* the weaker part of the world, but the spouse of Christ, and the mother of the saints. (2.) As *clothed with the sun,* the imputed righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ. Having put on Christ, who is *the Sun of righteousness,* she, by her relation to Christ, is invested with honourable rights and privileges, and shines in his rays. (3.) As having *the moon under her feet* (that is, the world); she stands upon it, but lives above it; her heart and hope are not set upon sublunary things, but on the things that are in heaven, where her head is. (4.) As having on her head *a crown of twelve stars,* that is, the doctrine of the gospel preached by the twelve apostles, which is a crown of glory to all true believers. (5.) As in travail, crying out, and *pained to be delivered.* She was pregnant, and now in pain to bring forth a holy progeny to Christ, desirous that what was begun in the conviction of sinners might end in their conversion, that when the children were brought to the birth there might be strength to bring forth, and that she might see of the travail of her soul.
2. How the grand enemy of the church is represented. (1.) As a *great red dragon*--a dragon for strength and terror--a red dragon for fierceness and cruelty. (2.) As *having seven heads,* that is, placed on seven hills, as Rome was; and therefore it is probable that pagan Rome is here meant. (3.) As having *ten horns,* divided into ten provinces, as the Roman empire was by Augustus CĂŚsar. (4.) As having *seven crowns upon his head,* which is afterwards expounded to be seven kings, [ xvii. 10*ch.*](http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+17:10). (5.) As drawing with his tail a *third part of the stars in heaven,* and *casting them down to the earth,* turning the ministers and professors of the Christian religion out of their places and privileges and making them as weak and useless as he could. (6.) As standing *before the woman, to devour her child as soon as it should be born,* very vigilant to crush the Christian religion in its birth and entirely to prevent the growth and continuance of it in the world."So, you set up a question, wait till you get 90 posts of answers to let everyone debate and then you post several posts in a row with your answer and say - âokay, thatâs itâ. You havenât debated anything on your thread. Youâve let others do the work and come in at the last minute and drop a bombshell.
No, letâs discuss it. Donât hide behind a preformed source of information. Think for yourself and get back to me.
Whatever your signature shows how seriously we should take any objections or refutations you have
BUDDHA:whacky: No wonder you canât understand God Bless
Just the facts, maâam, just the facts. Iâve been a Baptist Christian for 32 years and know my positions well. Buddha has nothing to do with that. Any objections or refutations should be dealt with on their own merits, not the merit of the individual.Whatever your signature shows how seriously we should take any objections or refutations you have
Didnât He give His Church the authority âŚâwhatever bound on earth also bound in Heavenâ? How can such earthly institution bind things in Heaven
So, blind obedience is acceptable?Didnât He give His Church the authority âŚâwhatever bound on earth also bound in Heavenâ? How can such earthly institution bind things in Heaven
We are bound to His Churchâs teaching which includes the Scripture AND the Apostolic Oral Tradition.
The Church declares the Mother of Our Lord is Queen of Heaven â Hail Mary!
The answer to most stumbling blocks is lack of obedience, and disobedience is the root of evil.
So, blind obedience and faith are acceptable?Didnât He give His Church the authority âŚâwhatever bound on earth also bound in Heavenâ? How can such earthly institution bind things in Heaven
We are bound to His Churchâs teaching which includes the Scripture AND the Apostolic Oral Tradition.
The Church declares the Mother of Our Lord is Queen of Heaven â Hail Mary!
The answer to most stumbling blocks is lack of obedience, and disobedience is the root of evil.
Surely you donât see much blind obedience in this forum do youâŚIâd say we pretty well know why we believe the things we do and obey accordingly. If we lack anything itâs sometimes the ability to explain as clearly as weâd like since you havenât had the benefit of all the reading and study we have done.
Some points we can agree on:
Generally, folks here know their stuff. But, regrettably, there are those who have no idea. They have read the books, listened to the lectures - but when it comes to verifying what you just experienced - they donât take the time. They point to another source without using their own God-given intelligence and ability to think for themselves.
how can obeying Our Lordâs command (âwhatever boundâŚâ) be
Thank you for the link above. I could not stop reading the writings of St Alphonso Ligouri on the Glories of Mary. Tears came to my eyes as I read - so awesome and beautiful. Such deep insight, and light!
We really donât have to. Our denomination has already proved it âtrueâ. That is what is so sad about your debating in here. You keep by passing the truth. The mistake you are making in this very judgemental observation is to wrongly think that the people you are debating with have not investigated these things for themselves. They seem like very well read individuals. They have not come this far without having done their homework.
The big writing was hurting my eyes
so I had to tone it down a bit. What you provided was a pre-formed essay chock full of information that (again) cannot possibly be looked at and discussed. Are you prepared to discuss these point by point? You claim that you have given me tons of evidence. Just because you posted alot of information doesnât equate to evidence.
"our denomination has already proved it âtrueâ is a typical response.